Author: Tessa Bailey (Page 1 of 2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Au Pair Affair (Big Shots #2) by Tessa Bailey

BOOK REVIEW: The Au Pair Affair (Big Shots #2) by Tessa BaileyThe Au Pair Affair (Big Shots #2)
by Tessa Bailey
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Tallulah is smart, vivacious, and studying to be a marine biologist. She’s also twenty-six and broke. So when Burgess, a battle-scarred hockey veteran and newly single dad, offers her a job as his live-in nanny, she jumps at the opportunity to get paid while living in a super fancy neighborhood and being around Lissa, his cool but introverted tween.

Her tween charge isn’t the only one who could use some help fitting in, though. According to…well, everyone except Burgess, he needs to get back on the dating scene, and adventurous Tallulah is just the girl to show him how. But as boundaries are slowly crossed and Burgess finds himself pulled between his daughter, who wants her parents back together, and his insane chemistry with Tallulah, a huge rift is formed, and Tallulah does the “right” thing—breaks her own heart and walks away.

Though Burgess knows it’s for the best—he’s too jaded, with too much baggage—a chance meeting, and a new push from his daughter, forces him to put everything on the line and fight to prove he learned his lessons well and is worthy of a happily ever after with Tallulah.

Review:

The Au Pair Affair was a single dad, forced proximity, age gap, adult romance.  My favorite thing about this book was watching Burgess slowly start to win Tallulah over.  From being his nanny, to friend, to more.  I loved watching the progression of their relationship.  This was a feel-good book that made me so happy!

God, this woman ruled his dick and she had absolutely no idea.  Maybe allowing her to move in was unethical.

Burgess was a professional hockey player, who was definitely starting to feel his age.  So, while he could be burly on the ice, he was thoughtful and sensitive when it came to his daughter and new nanny, Tallulah.  His honesty and intensity were two of the things that I loved most about him.  Like when he would state physically what he wanted from her eeps!

“You could say I’m old-fashioned, sure.”
“It’s very mean Daddy of you,” she whispered.
Burgess’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. It’s what?”
“Ooh.” She winced. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Tallulah was a much-needed light in Burgess’s life.  The way she interacted with his daughter and helped Burgess and her talk warmed my heart.  Yet, Tallulah guarded her heart.  Her past was heartbreaking and I understood why she wanted to do her thing.  And not be tied down in a relationship.  Yet spending more and more time around Burgess, it was impossible for her not to fall for him.

“Give me a chance to show you that you’re safe with me.”

He was her boss.  She was his nanny.  Yet they both wanted each other desperately.  So, Burgess and Tallulah had heart quickening chemistry!  The tension between them simmered and when they crossed the line into more, it was scorching hot.  Also, I adored the found family within these pages.  Their best friends and his hockey team, also Chloe, added so much to this story!  It made me laugh when they would offer advice, I was dying!

“Is she giving you any signs?”
“She gave me a massage last night in the kitchen.”
“Then I’d say you’ve got a fucking chance, my man. Especially if it was a dick massage.”
“It was a back massage, shithead.  Jesus.”

If you’re looking for a beach read or a book to get lost in, I can’t recommend giving the Big Shot Series enough of a chance.  I loved the first book, about Burgess and Tallulah’s best friends.  And their own story was so much fun too.  I can’t wait to see whose story is next, I have a guess and my fingers are crossed!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

 

BOOK REVIEW: Fangirl Down (Big Shots #1) by Tessa Bailey

BOOK REVIEW: Fangirl Down (Big Shots #1) by Tessa BaileyFangirl Down (Big Shots #1)
by Tessa Bailey
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Wells Whitaker was once golf’s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his “promising” career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. He curses, she cheers. He scowls, she smiles. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life.

Josephine Doyle believed in the gorgeous, grumpy golfer, even when he didn’t believe in himself. Yet after he throws in the towel, she begins to wonder if her faith was misplaced. Then a determined Wells shows up at her door with a wild proposal: be his new caddy, help him turn his game around, and split the prize money. And considering Josephine’s professional and personal life is in shambles, she could really use the cash…

As they travel together, spending days on the green and nights in neighboring hotel rooms, sparks fly. Before long, they’re inseparable, Wells starts winning again, and Josephine is surprised to find a sweet, thoughtful guy underneath his gruff, growly exterior. This hot man wants to brush her hair, feed her snacks, and take bubble baths together? Is this real life? But Wells is technically her boss and an athlete falling for his fangirl would be ridiculous… right?

Review:

Fangirl Down was a book that was so effortless to enjoy!  This grumpy sunshine, adult, steamy, sports romance was a ton of fun!  With moments that were laugh out loud hilarious and you just can’t stop smiling, mixed in with cheering on your favorite characters and hiding from embarrassment, this book had it all!  I absolutely adored this story!  

Her honesty was oxygen.
But breathing it?  That part was terrifying.

I loved being in Josephine Doyle’s head, she was such a ray of happiness.  It didn’t matter how much Wells Whitaker was being gruff and grumpy, Josephine was there to cheer him on every step of the way. And have his back.  When she started to prove herself, I was clapping out loud!  I was so proud of Josephine!  The amount that she and Whitaker grew, from that first page to the last, was so entertaining!

“I have a new caddie,” Wells settled on, attempting to banish the thought of kissing the spirited redhead. “Something about the way she speaks about golf, my game in general, that makes me think . . . she could . . .” Make me love it again. “Make a difference.”

Wells Whitaker didn’t trust, let alone seem to like anyone.  Yet it was impossible for him to keep Josephine from wiggling into his world.  I loved getting to watch him trust her and listen to the wisdom she passed along.  And his thoughts were everything!  Whitaker could be such a marshmallow inside for Josephine, and such a fabulous dirty talker too!

For the first time in a long time, he wasn’t alone.  He had a . . . friend.

Josephine and Whitaker together had the most pulse pounding chemistry.  And their banter was so entertaining.  So, when they crossed the line, it was scorching hot and so steamy *fans face*.  Yet Josephine wanted to prove herself, and their struggle just added to the heart of this story.  While there was a lot of fun in the pages, there were also emotional moments too.  I couldn’t help but cry when Whitaker asked Josephine’s dad how to help her with something, sigh.

“I was very happy being alone until you showed up. You’ve ruined me.”
Her heart galloped in her chest. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I love being ruined by you. Bring it the fuck on.”
He kissed Josephine hard, slanting his mouth across hers and licking deep, his fingers sliding up into her hair and fisting.

Within Fangirl Down, there were so many favorite moments, such as the fireworks, the piggyback ride, matching outfits, the kicked door and good girl.  And then that epilogue was everything!  I am so happy to have gotten to read this book and can’t recommend it enough!

BOOK REVIEW: Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey

BOOK REVIEW: Same Time Next Year by Tessa BaileySame Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey comes a steamy novella full of hope and humor tracking a couple’s fake marriage for a year after the wild New Year’s Eve when they first say “I do.”

Adored by all, Britta is an ambitious waitress working at Sluggers. The popular bar holds a special place in her heart and is a regular hangout for the Bridgeport Bandits, the local hockey club. With a half brother on the team, Britta has a strict no-dating policy for hockey boys. But she does have a soft spot for one particular player.

A beast on the ice, Sumner Mayfield is on the brink of breaking into the NHL. But time’s running out. With his work visa about to expire, Sumner’s only chance to stay in Bridgeport is to marry an American—and get a green card. Otherwise, it’s back to Canada for the defenseman.

On New Year’s Eve, the team begs Britta to marry Sumner that very night. Sum is embarrassed yet hopeful—he’s desperately in love. But Britta balks at first. Until something about Sumner’s soulful brown eyes and ripped physique makes her reconsider…

Review:

Same Time Next Year was a steamy, marriage of convenience sports novella.  I listened to the audiobook and not only adored the voices, but the story was so much fun too!  I couldn’t stop smiling!  I didn’t care how true to the facts this story was, or how over the top ridiculous it could be.  For me what mattered was that I was attached to the characters and their connection and passion felt real.  I easily got lost listening to their story!

He concedes this with a nod. “Maybe that’s true. But even if you’re strong alone, when someone wades into your lake and you feel something . . . if you choose to ignore it, maybe that strength is actually just something else in disguise.”
“Weakness?”
“Fear.”

Britta was so easy to listen to and like.  Her half brother Bryce was a player on the local college hockey team, and she worked at a bar that they always hung out at.  When she found out that Sumner was going to be sent back to Canada, she agreed to marry him since he was destined to go pro.  Yet Sumner had the hugest crush on her, and I was wondering how long Britta would be able to hold off before she jumped in the sheets with him!

My wife is possessive.
Part of me wants to laugh out loud because the very idea that I could even consider another woman is so far outside the realm of possibility, she has no idea. What women? Where? I’m blind to every last one of them. There’s only Britta.

Sumner was the sweetest cinnamon roll ever!  He was so kind and had it bad for Britta.  I was obsessed with listening to his thoughts.  They were hilarious and made me smile so much.  And I loved how dedicated he was to wanting a family and how own happily ever after.  It was refreshing.  Yet Britta was wary of love and marriage because of her past.  So as she started to open up to Sumner, it was heartwarming.  Especially since Sumner saw Britta for who she truly was.

Holy fuck, my wife is so hot.

Sumner and Britta’s moments together that didn’t even seem to go anywhere could be so hot.  The parking lot scene?!  How can just kissing and touching be so erotic?  Sigh.  So when they did go further, it was sensual, detailed and so spicy!  Tessa Bailey knows how to write steamy scenes!  Mix that in with moments that had me screaming in joy, like the magazine haha!  And this book was so easy to listen to.  But keep in mind that this book was definitely filled with all the cheese, and all the my wife’s.  It ended with a fabulous grand gesture and I can’t wait to read whatever Tessa Bailey releases next!

BOOK REVIEW: Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

BOOK REVIEW: Wreck the Halls by Tessa BaileyWreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey delivers a sexy, hilarious standalone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their estranged mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert…

Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.

Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.

While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.

Review:

Wreck the Halls was a friends to lovers, famous, romance set around the holidays that was so much fun! While this story took me till almost 30%, chapter 10, to be completely pulled in, once it did I was hooked! With laugh out loud scenes, spicy moments, and a heartfelt love story, I enjoyed reading this story.

The woman had her and she knew it. To be in the same room with Beat Dawkins again . . . She wasn’t strong enough to pass up the chance. Melody shifted in her boots and tried not to sound too eager. “What time?”

Melody and Beat were the children of rock star royalty. Both of their moms had been in a band decades ago, that transcended time and was now popular again. Yet their moms had a falling out before they were even born. So when Melody and Beat first met as teenagers, awww it was smile worthy. Paparazzi seemed to be kind to him and horrific to her, and Beat made Melody feel seen and lifted her up. Yet when we jumped to present day, Beat seemed to be in a world of trouble. He was being blackmailed. So when a producer offered him a lot of money, to partake in a reality show to bring his mother’s band back together again, he knew that was the answer to his problems. And that he would get to spend time around Melody again.

He leaned down, brushing his lips against her forehead in what seemed like an unconscious gesture.

I absolutely loved Beat! He was kind, thoughtful, protective and swoon worthy. He seemed to have a wonderful family life with his parents, and was busy helping out with their charity and fundraiser work. Yet Beat had a secret which made him keep everyone at arm’s length. And that secret bled into his sexual life. I was thinking that it had to be something kinky, but nope I was way off base. It was a little different and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. But I was excited to see how Beat would learn to trust, especially when it came to Melody.

Touching her was like breathing.

Melody seemed to live a quiet life restoring books and seeing her mother once a year. But as she spend more time on the reality show, not only did Beat fall under her spell, but so did the world. I couldn’t stop smiling at how adorable and quirky Melody was. How relatable she could be. How easy she was to like. And I completely got how she was still crushing on Beat all those years later. How could she not?! But my favorite thing about Melody was feeling everything she did as the story unfolded. When she went to see her mother? I felt all the emotions. And I loved that we also got to watch her find her voice!

“I don’t know if I’m good for you, Mel.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Melody shifted her hips, slowly turning in his lap until she was facing the front of the plane. She looked back at him over her shoulder and gave a slow roll of her lower body, memorizing the way his eyes darkened. “Are you going to let us find out?”

Melody and Beat felt like kindred spirits. Neither of them had true friends that they let in, because they were always second guessing why they were around them. Was it really for who they were? Or was it because of who each of their mothers were? So I loved that they felt that instant connection to each other. That they could talk and understand each other so well. That their friendship was so easily formed. And how later that friendship started to cross the line. Beat and Melody together were hot and seductive, even if their intimate talking was a little cheesy at times. Yet they definitely had some emotional healing to do. Melody with her mother. And Beat with himself. And while the third part breakup was inevitable, I just wanted them to get back together again ASAP. So the grand gesture was perfect and made my heart so happy!

“Oh, darling.” Sympathy shone in his mother’s eyes. “Didn’t I mention? She’s not being subtle about her feelings, either. Friends shmends.”
“It’s complicated,” he said, hoarsely.
“Are you in love with her?” His heart answered for him, pounding behind his jugular.
“Yes.”
Tempered joy flooded Octavia’s expression. “Then perhaps you should uncomplicate it.”

While this book is set counting down till Christmas, it doesn’t have a lot of Christmas feels within the pages. Besides snow, snowball fights and I’m truly blanking on what else, this was just a wonderful winter book. On top of loving Melody and Beat, there were side characters that I loved too. Melody was the producer and she seemed like a true friend to Melody. I loved that she had a little side romance story going on for her too! This story closed with a wonderful happily for now, and I’m so glad I picked this book up!

BOOK REVIEW: Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters #2) by Tessa Bailey

BOOK REVIEW: Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters #2)  by Tessa BaileyHook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters #2)
by Tessa Bailey
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he's a guaranteed good time--in bed and out--and that's exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She's immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his... personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah's in town for work, crashing in Fox's spare bedroom. She knows he's a notorious ladies' man, but they're definitely just friends. In fact, she's nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport's resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker's eye... yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can't deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.

Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she's walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and... and... man overboard! He's fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he's all in, she'll choose him instead?

In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man...


Review

Is Tessa Bailey a genius or is she a genius, people?

I am absolutely kicking myself for not having read this sooner but I think I was nervous. I’ve read a few different romances with the trope of the ~playboy whose phone is constantly going off with booty calls he has lined up~ and they typically have at least one moment in the book where things go south between the couple in some, stupid, preventable way.

That was NOT the case in this book. GOOD LORD. For starters, I’m not sure that I have ever read about a character similar to Fox’s that, on the outside, was the stereotypical hot playboy who NEVER is in a relationship for the exact reasons that Fox was. My heart hurt so. Damn. Bad for him. It was one of those age old cases of growing up with a shitty example of a father, thinking certain behaviors were a norm when clearly no young kid should EVER be thinking that way, acting on those said behaviors starting in his teenage years, and then because they lived in such a small town, everyone around him continued to perpetuate that stereotype for him. SO BASICALLY THIS FUCKING MARSHMELLOW OF A HUMAN BEING thought his only worth was in being that hot, wild cat, never-to-be-tamed, kind of man. Sure he still found pleasure in the hookups but was he ever fully satisfied–NO and yet he still didn’t even think he would ever even deserve that kind of normal happiness with a woman. Good fucking lord. Toxic masculinity at its finest right there, folks.

…and Hannah was always comfortable waiting in the wings, anticipating her cue to talk on as best supporting actress, even providing bail money on more than one occasion. That was where she shined. Bolstering the heroine at her lowest point, stepping in to defend the leading lady when necessary, saying the right thing in a pivotal heart-to-heart.

In comes Hannah. The quieter, more reserved Bellinger sister but one that loves with the fierceness of a thousand burning suns. She considers herself to be in a supporting role instead of holding a leading lady title so naturally she’s gotten really good at being a hype woman and solid support system for everyone in her life other than herself. When Hannah and Fox were foisted upon one another so that Piper and Brendan could spend time together in It Happened One Summer these two left a massive impression on one another.

AND I AM SO SOFT FOR THE WAY IN WHICH THAT MANIFESTS. Like I am a sucker for text exchanges in romances so naturally the ones we saw here were so lovely. And the records. And the secret record player. And the moments when they ask each other what kind of song their day was and they both just get what the other is asking.

“Hannah. I can’t answer what I don’t know,” he said through stiff lips. “What do you want me to say? Do I want to fuck you? Yes. Oh my God, I”–his eyes closed briefly, those fisherman’s hands flexing on the steering wheel–“I want you underneath me so bad that I can’t lie in bed without already feeling you there. I’ve never even had you, and your body haunts mine.”

But the main thing I loved? Hannah. Hannah may find it easier to be a supporting actress but damn if those qualities aren’t SO important in a person. The way she was so supportive and loving to Fox when he needed it most–when he needed to believe he was worth something more than just a playboy who would never take life seriously she was there. She did not allow him to sabotage their friendship/relationship when he felt it was treading too close into “real feelings” territory. Like I’m talking multiple times. She was steadfast and just simply loved with every fiber of her being. Good lord I’m literally tearing up thinking about it LOL. I don’t know, something about this was just extra special to me and I loved every second. (Also not like this needs to be said the steam was obviously hot as hell *insert 10 flame emojis*)

“Good night,” Hannah said warmly, going up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “What kind of music day did you have?”
He let out a breath, happy to be back on familiar ground. “Coming home after four days on the water. Mmm. Something about home.”
“‘Home’. By Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes.”

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Avon for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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